Mechanism for recliner-rocker type of chair



Dec. 29, 1964 L. 1.. MARTIN ETAL 3,163,454

MECHANISM FOR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR Filed Aug. 19, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. LEONARD L.MARTIN FRANK M. RE

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 29, 1964 MARTIN ETAL MECHANISM F OR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 INVENTORS LEONARD L. MARTIN FRANK MRE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 29, 1964 L- MARTIN ETAL MECHANISM FOR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 INVENTO S. LEONARD L. MARTIN FRANKM. RE

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 29, 1964 MARTIN ETAL MECHANISM FOR RECLINER-ROCKER TYPE OF CHAIR 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 19, 1963 ATTORNEY m m w; TM ML 1 D R A N O E LFRANK M. RE

United States Fatent 3,163,464 MECHANifrh l FOR RECLlNER-RUCKER TYPE 9FCHAER Leonard L. Martin, Ludlow, and Frank M. Re, Holyoke,

Mass, assignors to Baal Manufacturing and Engineering incorporated,Holyolte, Mass.

Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 302362 4 Claims. (Cl. 29785) 1 Thisinvention relates to combination rocker-recliner chairs and moreparticularly to an operating mechanism cooperant with a rocker base anda rockable chassis and seat and back-rest and leg-rest of a chair of therockerrecliner type.

The concept of the invention envisions a mechanism which is adaptablefor interengagement with certain of the above itemized chair componentsto allow novel articulated movements of certain of the chair components.

The concept further comprehends, as one component of the structure, afully-articulated, two part, fold-away type of foot stool or leg-rest,and as other related components, a seat and back-rest, each togetherwith the leg-rest, mounted relative to a rockable chassis, which chassisis rockably supported upon a rocker base, with the seat and back-restand leg-rest being interrelated by a linkage system such as to allowsmooth movements of the movable components into and out of variousreclining positions.

Additionally, the concept envisions a chassis mounted upon a rocker baseso as to be rockable relative thereto, when the chair components are inthe upright-sitting position.

In general, a leg-rest unit, as a component of the rocking chair, issupported by a linkage mechanism designed to produce combined motions intranslation and rotation to shift the position and attitude of theleg-rest unit between a retracted position, at the front of the chair,and an extended posiiton spaced from and forwardly of the seat anddisposed generally in parallelism with or at a preselected anglerelative to the main plane of the seat.

Means are also provided, cooperatively associated with the aforesaidleg-rest linkage mechanism, for precluding any rocking motion in anypreselected reclining position. As a result, the user may employ thechair as a rocker with the leg-rest unit in retracted position, fromwhich position, he may extend the leg-rest unit and recline in the chairto a position established by his and the chairs weight distribution. i

It is one of the primary objects hereof to provide chair of the rockableand reclinable types with cooperant operating mechanism wherewithleg-rest and reclinable seat and back-rest elements are movablecoordinately between their respective positions assumed when the chairis in the so-called upright-sitting, leg-rest-retracted, position andwhen the chair is in the so-called fully-reclined, leg-rest-extended,position and amultiplicity of intermediate: reclined positionstherebetween.

Another salient object hereof is to provide in an improved chair, atwo-part leg-supporting unit constituted ting, leg-rest retractedposition, and with the side panel by major and minor leg-rest elementswhich may be of the supporting frame work of the rockable chassis on thenear side of the chair having been removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational View of the linkage mechanism of the chairshown in FIG. 1, with the mechanism being shown in theintermediate-reclined or TV position, and with certain of the chaircomponents having been removed for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, similar to FIG. 2,

. with the linkage mechanism being shown in the fullyreclined position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view of the linkagemechanism shown in FIG. 3, with certain portions being omitted forpurposes of clarity.

For ease in reference, the chair, as viewed in all of the figures, willbe considered with the forward face or front of the chair appearing atthe left and the rearward face or rear of the chair appearing at theright, and, for purposes of orientation, forward as used herein will beunderstood to mean toward the left and rearward will be understood tomean toward the right.

The chair, constituting the disclosed embodiment of the invention,comprises a rockable chassis 10, a seat 12, a separate back-rest 14, anda rocker base 15.

At either side of the chair, an arcuate rocker 4 is secured to therespective side wall of the chassis and rockable upon the upper planarsurface of the adjacent rail of the rocker base 15.

Each rocker 4 is interassociated with rocker base 15 by a doublecompression spring mechanism, generally designated by 5, in the normalplatform-rocker manner.

It will be understood, with reference to seat 12, that same isconstituted by a pair of parallel side rails interjoined at theirforwardmost and rearwardmost ends by a forward and rearward cross railrespectively, and which may be further interjoined by intermediate crossrails, all for the improved support of the usual cooperant springs,padding, and covering components.

Likewise, back-rest 14 is constituted by a pair of parallel side railsinterjoined by a plurality of strategicallylocated cross rails, inconventional manner.

Seat 12 and back-rest 14 will be pivotally secured relative to eachother and cooperantly will constitute what will be referred to as abody-supporting sub-assembly and same will be understood to have apivotal relationship to rockable chassis 10. g

A linkage mechanism, now to be described, will be understood toconstitute one of a pair, there being one such linkage mechanism at eachside of the body-supporting sub-assembly inwardly of the respectiveadjacent side of the rockable chassis so as to be concealed from view.

The linkage mechanism, as viewed in FIG. 1, is stationarily mounted on astretcher or cross rail 15 which is extendable transversely relative toand between the inner faces of the opposite side walls of rockablechassis 10, said stretcher being rigidly secured to said side walls.

A generally horizontally-disposed base bracket 18 extends along thefront-to-rear dimension of the chair and is stationarily fixed adjacentits forwardmost extremity by means'of an offset web portion 19 to thetop planar surface of stretcher 16 as by screws 20 or equivalent, and issecured adjacent its rearwardmost extremity to the adjacent portion ofthe coplanar-disposed side wall of the rockable chassis 10 as by a screw21 or equivalent securing means.

Extending upwardly from and integral with the forwardmost end face ofbase bracket 18, a linkage mechanism stop 24 is strategically providedfor limiting the linkage mechanism movement, as will appear.

A seat bracket 26, also extending in a front-to-rear dimension of thechair, is stationarily secured to the lower edge of the adjacent siderail of seat 12, as by screws 28.

A leg-rest stop 39 extends transversely relative to and outwardly fromseat bracket 26 near the forward extremity thereof for limiting leg-restmovement, as will hereinafter be made clear. Said leg-rest stop may besecured to said seat bracket by any conventional means so as to beunitary therewith and'conceivably may even comprise an offset portion ofseat bracket 26.

A back link 32, having the general configuration of a boomerang, has anupper-arm portion stationarily secured to the adjacent side rail ofback-rest 14 as by screws 34, and a lower forwardly-extending armportion 32' pivotally secured near its forward extremity to seat bracket26 near the rearward extremity thereof as by a pivotal connecting pin36, thereby allowing articulated movement of seat 12 and back-rest 14relative to each other.

' Seat 12 and back-rest 14 are pivotally supported for articulatedmovement relative to rockable chassis by means of a primary pivot link38 of generally dog-leg or sickle configuration which is pivotallyconnected near its upper extremity to back link 32 as by a pivotalconnecting pin 40 and is pivotally connected near its lower extremity tobase bracket 18, as by a pivotal connecting pin 42, thus allowing apivotal relationship between the rockable chassis and the seat andback-rest.

Seat 12 and back-rest 14 are additionally pivotally supported relativeto rockable chassis 10 through a secondary pivot link 44 and a tertiarypivot link 46, more fully to be described hereinafter.

Before proceeding with further recitation of the linkage mechanism, itis to be explained that a two-part, foldaway leg-supporting unit orleg-rest, generally indicated by 50, is constituted by a major leg-restelement 52 and a minor leg-rest element 54 pivotally inter'engaged.

Leg-rest 50 is mounted, by means of the linkage mecha- 1 nism, relativeto the forward end of seat 12 for movements between a fully-retractedposition, as viewed in FIG. 1, and a fully-extended position, as viewedin FIGS. 2 and 3, and intermediate positions therebetween.

In said fully-retracted position, which is the fullyupright or sittingposition of the chair, major leg-rest element 52 will be positionedsubstantially flush with the forwardly-facing vertical front rail ofseat 12, while the cooperant minor leg-rest element 54 will bepositioned so as to extend rearwardly from adjacent the lower end of themajor leg-rest element and concealed from view beneath the seat andbehind the major leg-rest element.

As will appear, when major leg-rest element 52 is elevated and advancedto any extended position, cooperant minor leg-rest element 54 is movedaccordingly therewith, it being pivotally interconnected thereto, asaforesaid. When the major leg-rest element is in fully-extendedposition, the minor leg-rest element will have moved to a positionforwardly of and in axial alignment with the major leg-rest element, asbest observed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Leg-rest 50 is suspended, relative to seat 12, by means of theaforementioned tertiary pivot link 46 and a pair of actuator links,identified as a primary actuator link 56- and a secondary actuator link58.

Tertiary pivot link 46 is pivoted adjacent its uppermost extremity toseat bracket 26 as by a pivotal connecting pin 60 and adjacent itslowermost extremity to primary actuator link 56 adjacent the lowermostrear'wardly-facing extremity thereof, as by a pivotal connecting pin 62.

Secondary actuator link 58 is pivoted, adjacent its upper extremity, toseat bracket 26 as by a pivotal connecting pin 64 disposed forwardly ofpivotal connecting pin 6'9, is pivoted at its midsection to themidsection of primary actuator link 56 as by a pivotal connecting pin66, and is pivoted adjacent its lower extremity to a primary lifter link7 0 as by a pivotal connecting pin 68.

By means of a pivotal connecting pin 72, primary lifter link 70 ispivoted adjacent its forward extremity to a major leg-rest support plate74 fixed to and extending rearwardly outwardly from the rearward face ofmajor leg-rest element 52 as by screws 76.

Primary lifter link 70 is pivoted at its approximate midsection as by apivotal connecting pin 78 to the approximate midsection of a secondarylifter link 89.

Secondary lifter link 80 is pivoted adjacent its upper extremity as by apivotal connecting pin 82 to adjacent the upper extremity of primaryactuator link 56 and is pivoted adjacent its lower extremity as by apivotal con necting pin 84 to adjacent the lower extremity of a primarycontrol link 99, said primary control link in turn being pivotedadjacent its forward extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 92 to aminor leg-rest support plate 94 which is fixed to the rearward or innerface of minor legrest element 54 as'by screws 95.

Major and minor leg-rest support plates 74 and 94 respectively arearticulately interlinked by a pivotal connecting pin 96, wherewithcorresponding articulated movement between the major and minor leg-restelements is allowed.

A secondary control link is pivoted adjacent one of its ends as by apivotal connecting pin 102 to major legrest support plate 74 and ispivoted adjacent its opposite end as by a pivotal connecting pin 104 toprimary control link 90.

Rearward movement of leg-rest 5t), beyond the retracted position shownin FIG. 1, is precluded by the abutment of an edge of primary lifterlink 70 against the adjacent edge of the vertically co-planar primaryactuator link 56, a positive stop action being assured by virtue of theconfiguration of primary lifter link 70, its upper edge being flattenedas at 1% adjacent the lower extremity of the said link and theconfiguration of the adjacent lower edge of primary actuator link56which is provided with a complemental longitudinally-extending notch168. In chair upright position, flat 106 is receivable in notch 108,wherewith said positive stop action is realized.

A braking device is provided in the form of a leg-rest friction plate109 which has a lowermost projecting tail portion 110 which is securedrelative to secondary actuator link 58 as by the pivotal connecting pins68 and 66.

The main body portion of said leg-rest friction plate is provided withan arcuate edge 109, for purposes to appear.

A friction link 113 is secured relative to primary actuator link 56'asby pivotal connecting pin 66 and a bolt 115 extendable through saidfriction link and an aligned opening in said primary actuator link, saidbolt having a cooperant spring washer 117 and nut 119 receivedthereupon. H

Therewith, movement of leg-rest 50 in leg-rest extending direction isvariably controlled according to the weights of the individual chairoccupants.

A rise bar 111 interconnects the previously described leg-rest portionof the linkage mechanism to rockable chassis 10 by means of tertiarypivot link 46 which is pivoted at its midsection to adjacent a forwardportion of the rise bar as by a pivotal connecting pin 112. Said risebar rotates on a pivotal connecting pin 114 located adjacent the risebar rearward extremity, by means of which the rise bar is interconnectedto base bracket 18 and is rotatable relative thereto.

The lower edge or face of rise bar 111 is provided,

7 adjacent its forward extremity, with a recess 116 adapted to receivemechanism stop 24 in abutting relationship to preclude any downwardmovement of the rise bar and hence of the entire linkage mechanismbeyond a predetermined limit as dictated by the relationship of parts inthe chair upright position.

An elevator link 120 is pivoted to rise bar 111 intermediate the lengththereof as by a pivotal connecting pin 122 and is provided with anarcuately-configured forwardly and upwardly-facing edge 124, which edgeterminates adjacent its rearmost extremity in an offset lip or flangeportion 126 which extends radially outwardly beyond and transverselyrelative to edge 124. Lip portion 126 functions as a stop, when thechair is in fully-reclined position, being engageably received within anotch 128 strategically provided in the upper edge of rise bar 111.

An upset in rise bar 111, adjacent edge 124 of elevator link 120, is soformed as to define an olfset friction finger 130. The outer freeextremity of friction finger 130 and rise bar 111 are coplanar anddefine a space therebetween in which is receivable elevator link 120,one planar face of the elevator link being flush with the adjacent innerplanar face of the rise bar, and the other planar face thereof beingflush with the adjacent inner planar face of the friction finger.

A bolt 132, extendable laterally through a suitable opening in frictionfinger 136, has a nut 134 threadedly engageable therewith andtightenable against a spring washer 136 sleeved on said bolt in mannerto bridge the rise bar opening resultant from the upsetting in formingthe friction finger and to be positionable firmly and flush against therise bar outermost planar face. Being springlike in nature, washer 136spring loads the friction finger.

Nut 134, tightened against washer 136, will draw friction finger 139inwardly in manner to increase frictional engagement between elevatorlink 1213 and rise bar 111. Conversely, nut 134 may be loosened,wherefore frictional engagement between the elevator link and rise baris decreased.

Nut 134 and washer 135, cooperantly with friction finger 130, constitutean adjustable braking mechanism wherewith the force or weight requiredto move both seat and back-rest to one of a plurality of recliningpositions may be varied, in accordance with the specific desires orrequirements of a particular chair occupant.

A lowermost, outwardly-projecting, portion of elevator link 120 definesa tail 138 which may be pivoted adjacent its outer extremity as by apivotal connecting pin 140 to adjacent the lowermost extremity ofsecondary pivot link 44. The secondary pivot link in turn is pivotedadjacent its uppermost extremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 142 toseat bracket 26.

A limit link 150, pivoted adjacent its lower extremity as by a pivotalconnecting pin 152 to base bracket 18 and pivoted adjacent its upperextremity as by a pivotal connecting pin 154 to elevator link 120,functions to limit angularization of the body-supporting sub-assembly inthe fully-reclined position.

Any rocking movement of chassis relative to rocker base 15, While thechair is in the positions of FIGS. 2 or 3 or positions therebetween, isprecluded by a linkage system now to be described.

A stop actuating link 160 is pivoted at 162 to primary pivot link 38adjacent the lower end thereof and at 164 at its forward end to theupper end of a guiding link 17% which is in 'turn pivoted at its lowerend at 172 to base bracket 18.

The lower end of stop actuating link 160 is pivoted at 174 to a rollerlink 180 adjacent the rnidsection thereof.

Roller link 18% is pivoted at its upper end at 182 to the rearward endof a cross link 1% which is pivoted at its forward end at 192 to basebracket 18.

moves stop actuating link 160 rearwardly through the pivotal connection162, whereupon the upper end of roller link 1811 is caused to pivot at182 relative to cross link 190.

Roller link 180 continues to swing, being guided by guiding link 1711,until roller 184 contacts the upper surface of rocker base 15 which mayconveniently have a bearing plate 200 fixed thereto as by screws 2112 orequivalent upon which bearing plate said roller 184 may ride.

Contact of roller 184 with hearing plate 200 on rocker base 15,precludes rocking of the chassis 110 relative to said rocker base whenthe chair is in the intermediate or fully-reclined positions orpositions therebetween.

As the chair is moved between the intermediate reclining position ofFIG. 2 and the fully-reclined position of FIG. 3, roller 134 rolls alongrelative to hearing plate 22d, still effectively precluding rocking ofthe chassis 10.

When the chair is in fully-upright position with leg-rest Sil retracted,major leg-rest element 52 being positioned flush with the forward faceof seat 12 and minor leg-rest element 54 being disposed rearwardly, risebar 111 will be observed to rest on stop 24 with friction finger 130 andbolt 132 being disposed adjacent the lower end of edge 124 of elevatorlink 120. From this position, it is possible for the chair occupant tomove to an intermediate reclined position, by causing arearwardly-directed component of force to bear upon back-rest 14 inmanner to cause the seat and back-rest to move in substantially rearwarddirections relative to stretcher 16 by the coordinated swingingmovements of primary pivot link 38 and secondary pivot link 44 andtertiary pivot link 46, each upon its respective pivotal connecting pin.

In the course of any movement from upright position to a reclinedposition and with the leg-rest extended, the primary and secondary andtertiary pivot links and the secondary actuator link pivot unisonly (inclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1) concomitantly with movement ofseat bracket 26 and the body-supporting assemblage.

Rotation of tertiary pivot link 46 urges primary actuator link 56forwardly and upwardly, so as simultaneously to urge secondary actuatorlink 58 forwardly and upwardly thereby to cause a corresponding movementof primary lifter link 70, all whereby major leg-rest support plate 74and major leg-rest element 52 are motivated into the extendedgenerally-horizontally disposed position.

Similarly, rotation of primary actuator link 56 imparts a correspondingrotation to secondary lifter link whereby primary and secondary controllinks and respectively are moved forwardly and outwardly to urge theminor leg-rest support plate to pivot relative to the major leg-restsupport plate.

A smooth swinging motion of minor leg-rest support plate 94 is assuredby the constraining action of secondary control link 1190 on forwardmovement of primary control link 90 as it motivates the minor leg-restsupport plate into axial alignment with the major leg-rest supportplate, all wherewith the major and minor leg-rest elements are disposedin axial alignment as to each other when the chair is in a semi-reclinedposition, as in FIG. 2, or is in a fully-reclined position, as in FIG.3.

In such leg-rest extending movement sequence, rise bar 111 has notchanged its generally-horizontal position relative to base bracket 18and continues to rest on stop 24, even though leg-rest 50 is nowfully-extended while the forward edge of secondary actuator link 58abuts stop 30 on seat bracket 26 to preclude further leg-rest extension,and roller 184 on roller link 1811 now contacts bearing plate 21311 onrocker base 15 to preclude rocking of chassis 10 relative to said rockerbase.

The occupant may position the body-supporting sub-assembly at anyposition of reclination between the positions of FIGS. 1 and 2, with aconcomitant partial extension of the leg-rest, ample leg support beingprovided by major leg-rest element 52.

To reach fully-reclined position from a semi-reclined position, thechair occupant need but once again bring additional rearward pressure tobear upon back-rest 14 as by pushing with the hands upon the arms of thechair, whereupon the forward end of rise bar 111 will be urged upwardlyby tertiary pivot link 46 through pivotal connecting pin 112 to causethe rise bar to swing on its pivotal connecting pin 114. During suchmovement, secondary actuator link 58 will continue to abut stop 30 onseat bracket 26, thereby precluding any further leg-rest extension, androller 184 will continue to ride on hearing plate 200 precluding rockingof the chassis 10.

As back-rest 14 is further angularized, seat 12 and seat bracket 26 areurged generally upwardly by toe portion 32' of back link 32 through thepivotal connection 36, and the lower end of tail 138 is pulled upwardlyby secondary pivot link 44 through its pivotal connecting pin 140,whereupon elevator link 1% is caused to pivot relative to rise bar 111on its pivotal connecting pin 122 until flange 126 becomes engaged inrise bar notch 123 to preclude further rotation of elevator link I20.

Friction finger 130 controls the ease of rotation of elevator link 126upon pivotal connecting pin 122 depending upon the tension set up in thefriction finger by the adjustment of nut 134 relative to bolt 132 andWasher 136. By this simple adjustment, coupled with the rise of theseat, any objectionable sensation of falling is precluded.

The occupant may return the chair from the fully-reclined to thesemi-reclined position, with the leg-rest remaining extended, byexerting a slight downward pressure upon seat 12, or simply by bringingthe shoulders away from the back-rest of the chair, causing rise bar 111to move downwardly into contact with stop 24 and causing secondary pivotlink 44 to exert a downward pressure upon tail 138 of elevator link 120whereupon the elevator link rotates upon its pivotal connecting pin 122so that the arcuate edge 12.4 moves upwardly relative to friction finger130 and bolt 132.

Alternatively, the occupant may return directly to the fully-uprightposition by exerting a slight downward prcssure of the heels upon theleg-rest.

By the novel interconnection between rise bar 111, secondary andtertiary pivot links 44 and 46 respectively, and elevator link 120, thereclining movements of the body-supporting sub-assembly are smooth andeffortless and are perfectly controlled and balanced and coordinated.

On returning to the intermediate reclining position of FIG. 2 from thefully-reclined position of FIG. 3, roller 184 moves forwardly alongbearing plate 200, roller link 180 having maintained its substantiallydownwardly extended position, wherefor chassis has maintained atrelatively fixed relationship to rocker base 15.

On return from the position of FIG. 2 to the upright or rocking positionof FIG. 1, roller 184 is swung upwardly away from rocker base to itsretracted position rearwardly of rocker 4, whereupon rocking movement ofrockable chassis 10 relative to rocker base 15 once again becomespossible.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of theinvention herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains that certain omissions or changes may bemade therein, all without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim: I

1. In a rocker-recliner chair inclusive of a rocker base and a chassisrockably mounted thereupon and a body supporting sub-assembly includinga back-rest and a seat pivotal relative to each other and to the chassisand with the body-supporting sub-assembly being shiftable between aprimary upright sitting position and a multiplicity of secondaryreclining positions, the improvement in position-attaining meanscomprising: a leg-supporting means, a linkage system for supporting thebody-supporting subshifting movements of the body-supportingsub-assembly and including a rise bar pivotally interconnecting saidleg-supporting mean-s and the chassis and an elevator link pivotallyinterconnected to said rise bar and a stop means carried by saidelevator link and rise bar and brake means carried by said rise bar forfrictionally interengaging said elevator link and rise bar, said brakemeans cooperating with said elevator link and rise bar and stop meansfor effecting control of the shifting movements of the bodysupportingsub-assembly, and means cooper-ant with said linkage system andincluding a roller link responsive to movement of said linkage systemand a roller carried by said roller link-and rollable into bearingcontact upon the rocker base as the body-supporting sub-assembly isshifted relative to the chassis for effecting preclusion of the rockingof the chassis in any secondary position of the body-supportingsub-assembly.

2. In a combination rocker-recliner chair including a rocker base and achassis rockably mounted on the rocker base and a body-supportingsub-assembly including a back-rest and a seat pivotal relative to eachother and to the chassis, the improvement in means for mounting thebody-supporting sub-assembly for movement between a sitting position andan intermediate reclined position and a fully reclined position andpositions therebetween comprising: a leg-rest, a system of linkageformoving said leg-rest between a stored position adjacent the seat ofthe sub-assembly and a position forwardly thereof in coordination withthe reclining movement of the bodysupporting sub-assembly and including:a rise bar pivotally interlinking said leg-rest and the chassis, anelevator link pivotally connected to said rise bar, stop means, andadjustable brake means integral with said rise bar for frictionallyinterengaging said elevator link and rise bar, said brake means inconnection with said elevator link being adapted to control the ease andrange and rate of reclining movement of the body-supportingsub-assembly, and means cooperant and operable in concert with saidsystem of linkage and including a roller carried by a roller linkpivotally interconnected with said system of linkage and with the rollerof said means being movable into a relationship of bearing contact uponthe rocker base as the body-supporting sub-assembly is moved relative tothe chassis for precluding the rocking of the chassis with respect tothe rocker base in any of the reclined positions of the body-supportingsub-assembly.

3. In a platform rocker type of chair, the combination including: arocker base, a chassis rockably supported upwardly of said rocker base,a body-supporting sub-assembly including a back-rest and seat pivotallymounted for tilting movement relative to each other and to said chassis,a leg-rest, a system of interconnected links supported on said chassisand pivotally supporting the seat and backrest of said body-supportingsub-assembly and said legrest for moving said leg-rest between aretracted position adjacent said body-supporting sub-assembly andprojected positions forwardly of said body-supporting sub-assembly, androller means constituted by a roller link pivotally interconnected toand cooperant with said system of links and operable in concerttherewith and a roller rotatably mounted upon said roller link forrolling into bearing relationship upon said rocker base and locking saidchassis against rocking relative to said rocker base when saidbody-supporting unit is tilted relative to said chassis.

4. In a rocker-recliner chair the combination of, a rocker base, achassis mounted on and rockable relative to said rocker base, abody-supporting sub-assembly including a seat and a backrest pivotalrelative to each other, a leg-rest, a linkage system of interconnectedlinks 9 for mounting said body-supporting sub-assembly for shiftingmovements of the seat and back-rest between upright sitting position andreclined position and intermediate reclined positions therebetwee-nrelative to said chassis and rocker base and for moving said leg-restbetween stored position adjacent the seat of said body-supportingsub-assembly and projected position forwardly of the seat coordinatelywith shifting movements of said body-supporting sub-assembly andincluding: a rise bar pivotally interlinking said leg-rest and saidchassis, an elevator link pivotally connected to said rise bar, brakemeans integral with said rise bar and frictionally engageable with saidelevator link; said brake means eooperantly with said elevator linkconstituting a means for controlling movements of said body-supportingsub-assembly relative to said chassis, and roller means operable inconcert with said linkage system for precluding rocking of said chassisin other than the upright sitting position of said bodysnpportingsubaassembly and constituted by a roller link movable responsively tomovement of said linkage system and a roller rotatably mounted thereon,the roller of said 10 roller means being movable into contactingrelationship upon said rocker base responsive to movement of saidlinkage system as said body supporting sub-assembly is moved relative tosaid chassis and out of upright sitting position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 11,906 4/01Harmon 297291 X 1,688,576 10/28 Doyle 297 2,698,649 1/55 Hopkes 2972692,746,519 5/56 Krikorian 297-269 2,838,093 6/58 Bank et a1. 297752,951,528 9/60 Maurer 297266 3,065,828 11/62 Caldemeyer 297269 X3,069,201 12/62 Belisle et a1. 297 3,075,810 1/63 Kitsopoulds 2972703,114,573 12/63 Mizelle 29775 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A ROCKER-RECLINER CHAIR INCLUSIVE OF A ROCKER BASE AND A CHASSISROCKABLY MOUNTED THEREUPON AND A BODYSUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY INCLUDING ABACK-REST AND A SEAT PIVOTAL RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AND TO THE CHASSISAND WITH THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY BEING SHIFTABLE BETWEEN APRIMARY UPRIGHT SITTING POSITION AND A MULTIPLICITY OF SECONDARYRECLINING POSITIONS, THE IMPROVEMENT IN POSITION-ATTAINING MEANSCOMPRISING: A LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS, A LINKAGE SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING THEBODY-SUPPORTING SUBASSEMBLY IN ITS SHIFTING MOVEMENTS AND FOR MOUNTINGSAID LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS RELATIVE TO THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUBASSEMBLYAND FOR MOVING SAID LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS BETWEEN RETRACTED POSITIONADJACENT THE SEAT OF THE BODYSUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY AND PROJECTEDPOSITION FORWARDLY THEREOF AND DISTANTLY THEREFROM COORDINATELY WITH THESHIFTING MOVEMENTS OF THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY AND INCLUDING ARISE BAR PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID LEG-SUPPORTING MEANS AND THECHASSIS AND AN ELEVATOR LINK PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED TO SAID RISE BARAND A STOP MEANS CARRIED BY SAID ELEVATOR LINK AND RISE BAR AND BRAKEMEANS CARRIED BY SAID RISE BAR FOR FRICTIONALLY INTERENGAGING SAIDELEVATOR LINK AND RISE BAR, SAID BRAKE MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAIDELEVATOR LINK AND RISE BAR AND STOP MEANS FOR EFFECTING CONTROL OF THESHIFTING MOVEMENTS OF THE BODYSUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY, AND MEANCOOPERANT WITH SAID LINKAGE SYSTEM AND INCLUDING A ROLLER LINKRESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID LINKAGE SYSTEM AND A ROLLER CARRIED BYSAID ROLLER LINK AND ROLLABLE INTO BEARING CONTACT UPON THE ROCKER BASEAS THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY IS SHIFTED RELATIVE TO THE CHASSISFOR EFFECTIVE PRECLUSION OF THE ROCKING OF THE CHASSIS IN ANY SECONDARYPOSITION OF THE BODY-SUPPORTING SUB-ASSEMBLY.